Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Nucleocapsid Antigen in Urine of Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 . (1st March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Veyrenche, Nicolas; Pisoni, Amandine; Debiesse, Ségolène; Bollore, Karine; Bedin, Anne Sophie; Makinson, Alain; Niel, Clémence; Alcocer-Cordellat, Carmen; Mondain, Anne Marie; Le Moing, Vincent; Van de Perre, Philippe; Tuaillon, Edouard
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 226:Number 5(2022)
• Page Start: 812
• Page End: 821
• Publication Date: 2022-03-01
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- SARS-CoV-2 -- Nucleocapsid -- Urine -- Severity; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac073
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleocapsid antigen (N-Ag) can be detected in the blood of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We used a highly sensitive and specific assay to explore the presence of N-Ag in urine during the course of COVID-19 and its relationship with the severity of disease. Methods: We studied urinary and plasma N-Ag using a highly sensitive immunoassay in 82 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection proved by polymerase chain reaction. Results: In the first and second weeks of COVID-19, hospitalized patients tested positive for urinary N-Ag (81.25% and 71.79%, respectively) and plasma N-Ag (93.75% and 94.87%, respectively). High urinary N-Ag levels were associated with the absence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies, admission in intensive care units, high C-reactive protein levels, lymphopenia, eosinopenia, and high lactate dehydrogenase levels. Higher accuracy was observed for urinary N-Ag as a predictor of severe COVID-19 than for plasma N-Ag. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that N-Ag is present in the urine of patients hospitalized in the early phase of COVID-19. As a direct marker of SARS-CoV-2, urinary N-Ag reflects the dissemination of viral compounds in the body. Urinary N-Ag may be a useful marker for disease severity in SARS-CoV-2 infections. Abstract : Mechanisms leading to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain poorly understood. We demonstrate that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 nucleocapsid protein is present in high concentrations in the urine of hospitalized patients with COVID-19, concentrations associated with COVID-19 severity.